IT IS not often that a guest artiste has an audience buzzing with anticipation and excitement.

So it is a testament to the multi-talented and versatile Lee Mead to have remained at the top of his profession for over ten years, a rare achievement in the world of entertainment, but he has become a household name since winning over the viewers on the BBC talent show ‘Any Dream Will Do’ and securing the lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ in 2007.

To celebrate this successful decade Lee is currently undertaking a year long anniversary tour and Loughborough’s Town Hall became his halfway venue and what a night it was! I have rarely seen a more animated audience who were in full cry clapping and cheering before Lee even appeared, the full house went wild when the keyboard player and conductor, Adam Dennis came on and totally erupted as Lee himself strode across the stage launching straight into his first song ‘Imagination’.

His opening words were ‘Wow, you’re a lively bunch’ which immediately established an instant rapport with the audience as he spoke about his early career going from a working class South End boy to becoming a musical and television star, his pride in being a father and his ambitions for the future.

He was honest, comedic and utterly charming and it is easy to see why he became the public’s winner back in 2007. The tour coincides with the release of his latest album and the show combines musical theatre classics with his favourite pop songs all interspersed with anecdotes about his treading the boards plus his TV filming playing nurse Lofty in the hospital drama ‘Holby City’.

Songs from Wicked, Miss Saigon and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang all featured in the first half with his own take on ‘Bring Him Home’ from Les Miserables, my personal highlight. Michael Buble’s I Feel Good and Take All of Me followed and the first half was brought to an end with ‘Close Every Door’ from Joseph resulting in a standing ovation.

The excitement virtually reached explosive point in the second half especially with his ‘boyband’ moment with audience participation in I Want You Back and Lee’s delivery of the song Anthem was received with prolonged cheering en masse.

After the final song Blackbird it was clear the audience wanted more, Lee didn’t disappoint and clad in the multi-coloured coat brought the house down with a reprise of Close Every Door. His parting words were ‘I Wanna Come Back’ don’t worry Lee, you will, the door is open for more Mead magic!